Mavs upgrade Nowitzki to 'day-to-day' as big game looms
NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION

DALLAS (AP) - The Dallas Mavericks upgraded the injury status of Dirk Nowitzki to dayto day yesterday, as the franchise faces a pivotal Western Conference game against Golden State tonight.

The reigning MVP, who has been out since spraining his left ankle and knee March 23, was to be be re-evaluated today to see if he can play against the Warriors. That game, to be played at Dallas, tips off at 8:30 p.m.

Nowitzki landed awkwardly on his left leg after running to block a shot in a loss to San Antonio. He was diagnosed with a moderate high ankle sprain and a mildly sprained knee. The Mavs are 2-2 since he was sidelined.

The Mavs (46-28) are a game ahead of Golden State for the No. 7 seed in the Western Conference. The Warriors lost to San Antonio, 116-92, on Tuesday night.

But there's no time to savor wins or dwell on losses in the Western Conference. Not when there's usually another big game the next night.

That's the way Golden State has to look at things after its loss at San Antonio Tuesday. That dropped the Warriors out of the top eight in the West, but instead of worrying too much about that, they were already looking ahead to tonight's visit to Dallas.

"It's just like last year: it's just that we have a better record this year, but we're still fighting to get in the playoffs like last year," Warriors forward Stephen Jackson said. "This one was definitely tough, but we're a tough team. We've got another game tomorrow and we've got to be ready to play that one. We still have a chance to get in and our focus is getting in."